The University of Ibadan International School (UIS) hijab crisis was
exacerbated this morning Thursday, 15th November, 2018 when female
Muslim students who wore hijab to resume with other students of the
school were disallowed from entering the premises.

A meeting of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) convened to
resolve the matter ended in a stalemate as Muslim parents who attended
the meeting were not allowed to express their grievances. Instead,
they were shouted down by Christian parents and teachers who
constituted the majority at the meeting. The Muslim parents therefore
decided to stage a walkout.

Commenting on this ugly development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
lamented the poor handling of the crisis by the school principal, Mrs.
Phebean Olowe.

“It is administrative masturbation. We are not novists in management.
The school principal has manipulated the PTA executive and exploited
the meeting to achieve her hidden agenda which, ab initio, has been
the denial of hijab for female Muslim students. Being a die-hard
member of the Scriptures Union (SU), this woman characteristically has
a pathological hatred for Muslims and their children.

“Why should a matter which affects Muslims only be subjected to the
decision of a Christian majority? The likely outcome was already known
to the principal. Whoever presided at that PTA meeting also had a
preconceived idea. Majority may have their way but the minority should
have their say. But that is only in democracy. Incidentally this is
not about democracy. It is religion and religion is a sensitive
matter. It will not succumb to democratic rules.

“Also by shouting down the Muslims at that meeting, the chairman has
exhibited gross irresponsibility. The chairman of any meeting has a
duty to protect all. He must have a listening hear and he should allow
common sense to prevail at the end of the day. Common sense in this
case should have made the chairman realize that bringing a majority
Christian group together with a minority Muslim group in a matter
affecting Muslims only in present-day Nigeria will only end up in
confusion”.

Professor Ishaq Akintola, who signed the statement, also condemned the
shutting out of Muslim students from the school premises this morning.

“It is religious apartheid. The principal has just shot herself in the
foot. Her real plan is now exposed. She never really wanted Muslim
children in that school unless they are prepared to compromise their
faith. It is glaring from the way she hobnobs with Muslim officials
who have exhibited readiness to compromise. She sees them as ‘liberal’
Muslims. To her a good Muslim is one who is not ready to stand by his
or her religion. Yet she knows the rules in her own denomination (SU)
where compromise is taboo. Imagine people who claim to be educated
willingly denying entrance to schools to school children.

“It is impunity. It is tyranny of the highest order. We will resist
this marginalization with every legitimate arsenal at our disposal. It
cannot happen in Ibadanland. UIS authorities have acted ultra vires by
shuting those students out. This is not a school where anyone can do
what he or she likes. It is a fee-paying institution and the
authorities will have to explain why those Muslim students who have
duely paid their school fees are shut out of the school gates. The
judiciability is not in contention here. A prima facie has been
established. If UI itself is not an island, its international school
cannot be entire of itself.

“They should look back and ponder. What happened in Osun State when
Christian parents engineered their children and wards to wear church
garments to school? How long did the church garment culture last in
Osun schools? Why do people love to start what they cannot finish?
What happened in the Law School when a single female Muslim law
graduate challenged the status quo? Or have we forgotten the Amasa
Firdaus affair so soon? What happened in Lagos State just two days ago
after several years of depriving female Muslim children of their
rights? How long will it take this principal to come to her senses?

“Phebean Olowe will eat her words. So will her cronies. The battle has
just begun. We will humble her without firing a single shot and
without recourse to violence. It is a battle of wits between the
oppressor and the oppressed. Phebean Olowe should stop massaging her
ego. She should do the right thing before it is too late.

“We will see who has the backing of the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. Her rubber-stamp PTA will need to explain to all
Nigerians how their school’s laws can over-ride the Nigerian
constitution. We hope they know what they are up against.

“Before we have a break, we advise the management of the University of
Ibadan to intervene. The school principal must be called to order. We
urge the Muslim parents to send their children and wards to school
everyday and to also record treatments meted out to them by the school
authorities. Freedom is never given on a platter of gold. Dare to
struggle, dare to win. No retreat, no surrender.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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